Manufactured home foundation

ABSTRACT

A foundation system for a manufactured home utilizing a plurality of elongated footings extending transversely of the home and support blocks which may be pushed along the footings into proper position for attachment to the structural beams of the manufactured home.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to foundation systems, and moreparticularly, a foundation system for manufactured homes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Manufactured homes historically have been susceptible to highwinds. A great variety of systems have been devised and utilized foranchoring manufactured homes in an effort to prevent a manufactured homefrom being turned over by a high wind. Typical systems includemechanical tie-downs which are, at least generally speaking, inadequateand difficult to properly install. Furthermore, when a manufactured homeis simply mounted on concrete blocks, which is typical, and anchored bymechanical tie-downs, the home does not meet the specifications for whatare considered the most desirable home loans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention contemplates a plurality of footingsimbedded in the ground in parallel, spaced apart relation arranged toextend transversely with respect to the length of the manufactured hometo be supported. A plurality of support blocks are slidingly mounted onthe footings in such a manner that the support blocks can be pushedunderneath the manufactured home into an accurate position underneaththe usual structural beams extending lengthwise underneath themanufactured home. Suitable fasteners are then secured to the supportblocks and the structural beams and the support blocks are adequatelysecured to the footings, such that the manufactured home will besecurely supported against high winds. Further, the inventioncontemplates the use of skirting around the lower edge of themanufactured home to provide a crawl space underneath the manufacturedhome and provide an appearance similar to a more conventionallyconstructed home.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the footing arrangement of the presentinvention showing the relationship of the footings with respect of themanufactured home.

[0005]FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of one of the footingsas taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the types of support blocks.

[0007]FIG. 4 is cross sectional view of a support block as taken alonglines 4-4 of FIG. 3, with the metal structural members shown inelevation for clarity of illustration.

[0008]FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view looking at a rightangle to the structure shown at the top of FIG. 4.

[0009]FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the upper portion ofFIG. 4.

[0010]FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of a portion of the skirting shownattached to some of the support blocks.

[0011]FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed view of a typical connection of theskirting to a support block.

[0012]FIG. 9 is a plan view of a typical skirting connection used at thecorner of a manufactured home.

[0013]FIG. 10 is a side view of a typical panel of skirting.

[0014]FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along lines11-11 of FIG. 1 showing a typical location of support blocks underneatha manufactured home.

[0015]FIG. 12 is a side view of another form of support block.

[0016]FIG. 13 is a schematic cross sectionl view of a modified footingand support block joint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly FIG. 1,reference character 20 generally designates a foundation system for amanufactured home 22 which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. A typicalmanufactured home has two or more structural support beams extendinglengthwise along the bottom of the home. A typical manufactured homesupport beam is in the form of an I-beam 24 as shown most clearly FIG.5. Such I-beams 24 are located underneath the manufactured home andextend lengthwise of the manufactured home from one end to the other.The present foundation system 20 is designed to support such I-beams 24and be securely attached thereto in order to make the manufactured home22 wind resistant.

[0018] The foundation system 20 includes a plurality of elongatedfootings 26 arranged in a parallel relationship extending transverselywith respect to the manufactured home support beams. As indicated inFIG. 1, each footing 26 has a length slightly greater than the width ofthe manufactured home 22 to project outside of the dimensions of themanufactured home 22. For example, a typical manufactured home may havea width of 28 feet and 2 inches and each footing may have a length of 29feet, such that the end of each footing 26 would project approximately 5inches beyond the side of the manufactured home. When skirting isutilized, the foundation system 20 also includes shorter footings 28adjacent each end of the manufactured home 22 for use in supportingskirting along each end of the manufactured home, as will be describedin detail below.

[0019] Each footing 26 (FIG. 2) is formed of concrete suitablyreinforced by bars 30 to provide a strong structure. Each footing isburied in the ground 32 in such a manner as to extend only a few inchesabove the top surface 34 of the ground as shown in FIG. 2. A groove 36is provided in the top 38 of each footing 26 and extends along thelength of the footing. The side walls 40 of each groove 36 are tapereddownwardly and inwardly as also illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0020] The present system 20 also utilizes a plurality of support blocks42 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Each support block 42 is suitablyreinforced concrete (re: enforcing shown in dash lines in FIG. 3) andtypically is of a weight approximately 700 pounds. Each support block 42is rectangularly shaped, having essentially straight vertically sidewalls 44, a straight or flat bottom 46 and carries a fastener generallyindicated at 48 near the upper end 50 thereof. The fastener 48 is notonly secured to the block 42 but is designed to be attached to one ofthe structural beams 24 of the manufactured home in such a manner thatif a high wind attempts to lift the manufactured home, it will also haveto lift the support blocks 42.

[0021] A suitable fastener 48 (FIGS. 5 and 6) comprises a pair of angleirons 60 imbedded in the top 50 of each support block 42 where the upperflange 62 of each angle iron 60 is spaced slightly above the top 50 ofthe support block 42. The typical fastener 48 also employs additionalangle irons 64 having one flange thereof positioned underneath thehorizontal flange 62 of an adjacent angle iron 60, with each angle iron64 being cut away to extend over the bottom flange 66 of one of thestructural I-beams 24. The adjacent angle irons 64 at each side of thesupport block 42 are in turn secured together by bolts 68. Thus, thefastener 48 securely attaches the respective I-beam 24 to the respectivesupport block 42.

[0022] In use of the present system, each of the support blocks 42 ispushed along one of the footings 26, by sliding through the respectivegroove 36 (FIG. 2) until the respective support block 42 is positionedunderneath one of the I-beams 24 of the manufactured home 22 asschematically illustrated in FIG. 12. With the respective I-beam restingon the respective angle iron flange 62, the attachment 48 carried by therespective support block 42 is then secured to the respective I-beam 24in the manner described above. Where-upon, a suitable grout 70 is thenplaced in the groove 36 in the space provided between the support block42 and the side walls 40 of the groove 36 to securely fasten the supportblock 42 to the respective footing 26. With this arrangement, the mobilehome will be anchored to the footings 26, not only for adequate support,but also for adequate wind resistance.

[0023] As previously indicated, when skirting is desired, the additionalshorter footings 28 (FIG. 1) are provided at each end of themanufactured home 22. Each shorter footing 28 would typically be 3 feetlong for a manufactured home of the size previously discussed, and,typically, three of the shorter footings 28 would be provided as shownin FIG. 1 at each end of the foundation system 20. Each short footing 28has a cross sectional configuration the same as a footing 26 asillustrated in FIG. 2.

[0024] Each shorter footing 28 receives a support block 42 a illustratedin FIG. 12. Each support block 42 a is rectangular in configuration thesame as a support block 42, but does not have a fastener at the topthereof. Each support block 42 a has a pair of pipes 70 imbedded thereinto extend transversely thru the support block for the receipt of otherfasteners as will be described below. Each support block 42 a will besupported in the mating groove 36 of the respective shorter footing 28and then grouted therein in the same manner as previously described withrespect to the support blocks 42.

[0025] The skirting, generally indicated at 72, is shown schematicallyin FIG. 11 and in detail in FIGS. 7-10. The skirting will normally beformed in panels 74 of reinforced concrete, but may also include panels76 as shown in FIG. 9 in the form of an L-shape to fit at the corners ofthe manufactured home. As shown in FIG. 9, the adjacent ends of thecorner panels 76 are secured in abutting relation by L-shaped bolts 77.Height-wise, the skirting 72 extends from the tops of the footings 26and 28 to at least the lower edge of the outside wall of themanufactured home 22 to totally enclose the space provided underneaththe manufactured home. Soil would then normally be pushed against theoutside surfaces of the skirting 72 up to about the height of the levelof the bottom of the manufactured home to give the appearance of aconventionally constructed home.

[0026] Each end of each panel 74 of the skirting 72 is provided with anaperture 78 to receive the end of a U-bolt 80 as illustrated in FIG. 8.The base portion 81 of each U-bolt 80 extends through one of the pipes70 in the respective support block 42 or 42 a. A suitable nut and washer82 are then secured on the outer end of each leg of the U-bolt 80 toforce the respective panels 74 against the end 84 of the respectivesupport block 42 or 42 a. A partial assembly of paneling is shown inFIG. 7 to provide a more thorough illustration.

[0027] In a preferred method of installation of the present foundationsystem, the footings 26 and 28 are first placed in the ground 32 suchthat the upper ends of the footings extend a very short distance abovethe top 34 of the ground 32. These supports may poured in place ormanufactured separately and installed in the ground. In any event, thefootings 26 and 28 will be sized and placed in the ground such adistance that the tops of the footings will be level.

[0028] The manufactured home will then normally be pulled over thefootings 26 and 28 into the position shown in FIG. 1. The support blocks42 are then shoved along the respective footings 26 until the attachment48 of each support block is properly positioned with respect to therespective support beam 24. The manufactured home is then lowered untilthe structural beams 24 of the manufactured home rest on the uppersurfaces of the angle irons 60 on the support blocks 42. The attachments48 are then secured to the beams 24. At such time, grout 70 will beplaced in each of the grooves 36 of the respective footings 26 to securethe support blocks 42 in the footings 26.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 11, a typical double-wide manufactured home 22will have four I-beams 24, two with each half of the home. In thisarrangement, the inner-most two support blocks 42 may be shorter thanthe outer support block 42, since they are not used to support theskirting 72. Also, a support block 42 a may be placed on each footing 26underneath the center of the home where the two halves of the home arejoined and used to support that portion of the house.

[0030] The shorter support blocks 42 a are then inserted in therespective grooves of the shorter footings 28 into the positions shownin FIG. 7; whereupon the various panels 74 and 76 of the skirting 72 areplaced in position and secured by use of the bolts 77 and J-Bolts 80 asshown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As mentioned above, soil may pushed up againstthe skirting 72 to the height desired to provide an appealing appearanceand the appearance of a conventionally constructed home.

[0031] In the embodiments described above, the lower portion of eachsupport block effectively forms a tongue which fits in the respectivegroove 36 in the upper surface of the respective footing 26 or 28. Inlieu thereof, the lower end of each support block 42 and 42 a may begrooved as indicated at 86 in FIG. 13 and the top of each footing 26 or28 may be shaped as a tongue indicated at 88. In either arrangement, thesupport blocks 42 and 42 a can be pushed along the respective footing 26or 28 to the desired position.

[0032] Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of partsor elements and in steps or procedures set forth above without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A foundation system for a manufactured homehaving at least two support beams thereunder extending lengthwise alongthe manufactured home, comprising; a plurality of elongated footingsarranged in parallel, spaced apart relationship under the manufacturedhome extending substantially at right angles to the manufactured homesupport beams; a pair of support blocks positionally secured on eachfooting with each support block being under one of the support beams ofthe manufactured home; and a fastener carried by each support blocksecured to the support block and the respective support beam of themanufactured home.
 2. A foundation system as defined in claim 1characterized further to include a tongue and groove connection of eachsupport block to the respective footing, whereby each support block maybe moved along the respective footing from one end of the footing to aposition under the respective manufactured home support beam before thesupport block is secured to the respective support beam and footing. 3.A foundation system as defined in claim 2 wherein each footing has agroove extending along the top surface thereof and the respectivesupport blocks slidingly fit in said groove.
 4. A foundation system asdefined in claim 2 wherein each footing has a tongue extending along thetop surface thereof and the respective support blocks have a groove inthe lower surface thereof mating with the tongue of the respectivefooting.
 5. A foundation system as defined in claim 3 wherein eachgroove has sidewalls tapering downwardly and inwardly, and that portionof the respective support block fitting in the respective groove hasvertical sidewalls, characterized further to include grout in the spacesbetween the support block and the respective groove sidewalls.
 6. Afoundation system as defined in claim 1 wherein the ends of the footingsare aligned with the sides of the manufactured home and extend outwardlyfrom the sides of the manufactured home, and characterized further toinclude a support block positionally secured on the outer end portion ofeach footing.
 7. A foundation system as defined in claim 6 characterizedfurther to include at least one additional footing at each end of themanufactured home, and a support block positionally secured in each saidadditional footing, each said additional footing extending beyond therespective end of the manufactured home.
 8. A foundation system asdefined in claim 7 characterized further to include skirting secured tosupport blocks at the outer edges of the manufactured home, therebyenclosing the space under the manufactured home.
 9. Supporting amanufactured home having a plurality of support beams thereunderextending the length of the home, comprising the steps of; providing aplurality of elongated footings in spaced apart, parallel relationextending transversely with respect to the desired location,length-wise, of a manufactured home; moving the manufactured home overthe footings; moving a support block along each footing to a positionunder each support beam; lowering the manufactured home until thesupport beams rest on the footings; attaching each support block to therespective manufactured home structural beam; and securing each supportblock to the respective footing.
 10. Supporting a manufactured home asset forth in claim 9 characterized further to include the steps of;placing shorter footings under the ends of the manufactured home; andsecuring skirting to the footings around the manufactured home.